Monday, August 16, 2010

Yesterday, I had one of those parenting moments that you don’t soon forget.

Let me set the scene. It was a scorching hot mid 90’s Seattle afternoon. To beat the heat we were hanging out at a local Seattle wading pool. As could be expected, we weren’t alone. Stretching out along the surrounding lawn were dozens of small children darting back and forth around the pool under the watchful eye of their dutiful parents.

We had set our picnic blanket out in a shady spot surrounded on all sides by families with similar plans. Sitting there in our bare feet and sipping on our cold drinks, it was a refreshing break from the stifling heat that stagnated in our air conditioned-less house.

Then it happened. And, almost as fast, it was over.

A woman walking a couple of dogs passed between our blankets. The father, upon seeing this happen turned to his 2 year old daughter and said “Look at those dog go!’

Then another dad, who was sitting with his wife and kids to our right piped up “Where are they going?”

A third dad, who happened to be passing by at that very moment chimed in “To a dog party?!”

Without much hesitation, I realized it was my turn. “It’s up in that tree!” I enthusiastically added, pointing a large nearby fir tree.

And with that we all simultaneously burst out into laughter realizing that we had just shared a moment that could only come from being the parents of small children.